(From left) Nishida and Azlan at one of the composting rings for coffee grounds and used tea leaves at a cafe. – KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
A COMMUNITY-approach waste management programme in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Kuala Lumpur was launched by then Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah.
The “Food Waste to Wealth” programme was carried out by GreenSteps Malaysia in collaboration with Panasonic Malaysia to support residents and businesses in TTDI to take action against climate change.
Mahadi said people must look into creative and innovative ways of green living to ensure a sustainable future.
“We must encourage more Kuala Lumpur communities to manage waste at their homes and neighbourhoods.
“All it takes is a small step to be more mindful of the waste.”
Panasonic Malaysia and GreenSteps Malaysia is holding a three-month contest that ends on June 30, offering TTDI residents a chance to win up to RM15,000 in vouchers.
To win up to RM10,000 worth of Panasonic vouchers, residents must download the GreenSteps Malaysia app and register for a “Household” account to begin recording the amount of food waste composted.
Residents can participate in the competition by separating their waste into three categories: organic or food waste, recyclable waste like plastic, aluminium, glass, paper, and ewaste (electronic waste), and non-recyclable waste such as face masks, soiled diapers and sanitary products.
Winners will be selected on criteria such as “most amount of food waste composted” and “most innovative and impactful composting solution”.
The app also enables them to track and measure their carbon reduction efforts while collecting GreenPoints.
Residents who accumulate GreenPoints by regularly composting their food waste and keying in data into the app will be rewarded with RM5,000 worth of vouchers redeemable at participating cafes in TTDI.
Throughout the competition, residents can access valuable tips and resources on effective source separation and composting from GreenSteps’ social media pages.
Panasonic Malaysia managing director Keisuke Nishida said the company’s long-standing mission, established by its founder, included tackling global challenges like climate change.
“We must embark on important behaviour changes to aim for a greener planet,” he added.
GreenSteps Malaysia chief founder Azlan Yaacob said GreenSteps was a platform that offered simple solutions for the public and local businesses.
“Kuala Lumpur City Hall spends RM250mil annually on waste management, and we can help save some of that money,” said Azlan.
“Previous attempts to address food waste in the TTDI community were not viable and a redesign was needed.
“We put forth a circular economy model that emphasises source separation as a crucial first step at households and cafes.”
GreenSteps Malaysia has prepared composting rings near participating cafes for used coffee grounds and tea leaves.
The cafes are Quartet, Dusun, Aperture, Mukha, Craft Origin, Artisan, Delia Wines and Bistro and Marookha.
The waste will be turned into nutrient- rich compost and used as fertiliser for edible gardens which will improve the well-being of the community.
